WEBVTT WOMAN IS EXPECTING BECAUSEPAIN RELIEF CHOICES ARE LIMITED.BRYONA HOWARD IS LOOKINGFORWARD TO MEETING HER BABY.>> I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUTEXCITED TOO.>> THE NERVOUSNESS ISUNDERSTANDABLE FOR A FIRST TIMEMOM BUT BRYONA HAS BEEN DEALINGWITH PERSISTANT, DEBILITATINGHEADACHES DURING HER PREGNANCY.>> SOMETIMES I'M DOING STUFF ANDI HAVE TO STOP.I CAN NOT MOVE IOR ANYTHING.THAT IS HOW BAD IT HURTS.MINDY THE HEADACHES ARE NOT NEW.: SHE'S BEEN DEALING WITHMIGRAINES SINCE CHILDHOOD BUTSHE SAYS THEY'VE BEEN MOREFREQUENT AND PAINFUL NOW THATSHE IS EXPECTING.>> IT'S WORSE THAN EVER BECAUSEI CAN'T TAKE MEDICINE, THEY HADME TAKING TYLENOL BUT IT DOESN'WORK AT ALL.MINDY DR. O.: LAWRENCE STITT THE THIRD ATMERCY MEDICAL CENTER SAYS THEREAREN'T MANY OPTIONS FOR PAINRELIEF FOR PREGNANT PATIENTSWITH MIGRAINES>> THE ONES THAT DO WORK WELLAREN'T REALLY RECOMMENDED DURINGPREGNANCY.THEY CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS NOT USETHOSE, SHY AWAY FROM THOSE ANDTRY TO TREAT PATIENTSSYMPTOMATICALLMINDY HE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR: PATIENTS LIKE BRYONA TO GETREST, AVOID STRESS AND STAY AWAYFROM ANYTHING THAT TRIGGERS AMIGRAINE.>> WHAT I LIKE TO TELL MYPATIENTS IS, EVEN THOUGH YOURHEAD IS HURTING EVEN THOUGH YOU, DON'T THINK YOU WANT SOMETHINGTO EAT, PUT SOMETHING IN YOURBELLY.DRINK SOMETHING.COME US INTO THE HOSPITAL ANLET US GIVE YOU AN IV ANDRE-HYDRATE YOU.MINDY HE ENCOURAGES EXPECTANT: MOMS IN THIS SITUATION TO NOTJUST SEE THEIR OB/GYN BUT ALSONEUROLOGIST.>> IF THEY CAN WORK WITH ANEUROLOGIST AND AN OB IN ANEFFORT TO GET THOSE MIGRAINEDOWN, THEY CAN THEREFORE HAVE AHEALTHIER PREGNANCY ANDHEALTHIER BABY AND HOPEFULLY ABETTER PREGNANCY OVER ALL FORTHEM.MINDY HE SAYS THAT TEAM APPROACH: MAY BE THE KEY TO PREVENTINGEARLY LABOR, AND MORE RESEARCHIS NEEDED SO PREGNANT WOMENSUFFERING FROM MIGRAINES HAVE

Complicating matters is that treating migraines is difficult when a woman is expecting because pain relief choices are limited.

Bryona Howard understands this as well as anyone. She is looking forward to meeting her baby.

“I'm a little nervous, but excited, too,” Howard said.

The nervousness is understandable for a first-time mother, but Howard has been dealing with persistent, debilitating headaches during her pregnancy.

“Sometimes I'm doing stuff and I have to stop,” Howard said. “I cannot move or anything. That's how bad it hurts.”

The headaches are not new for Howard. She has been dealing with migraines since childhood. But she said they have been more frequent and painful now that she is expecting.

“It's worse than ever because I can't take medicine,” Howard said. “They had me taking Tylenol but it doesn't work at all.”

Dr. O. Lawrence Stitt III at Mercy Medical Center said there are not many options for pain relief for pregnant patients with migraines.

"The ones that do work well aren't really recommended during pregnancy because of birth defects,” Stitt said. “So what we have to do is not use those, shy away from those and try to treat patients symptomatically.”

Stitt said it is important for patients like Howard to get rest, avoid stress and stay away from anything that triggers a migraine.

“What I like to tell my patients is, even though your head is hurting, even though you don't think you want something to eat, put something in your belly,” Stitt said. “Drink something. Come into the hospital and let us give you an IV and rehydrate you.”

Stitt also encourages expectant mothers in this situation to not just see their OB/GYN but also see a neurologist.

“If they can work with a neurologist and an OB in an effort to get those migraines down, they can therefore have a healthier pregnancy and healthier baby and hopefully a better pregnancy over all for them,” Stitt said.

Stitt said that team approach may be the key to preventing early labor and more research is needed so pregnant women suffering from migraines have more options.